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Rooney's successful role as [[Andy Hardy]] in ''A Family Affair'' (1937) led to fourteen further films featuring that character from 1938 to 1958. His first role as the top-billed star in a feature film was as Shockey Carter in ''Hoosier Schoolboy'' (1937) with [[Edward Pawley]] playing his father. His breakthrough serious role came in 1938's [[Boys Town (1938 film)|Boys Town]] opposite [[Spencer Tracy]] as Whitey Marsh, which opened shortly before his 18th birthday. His fame peaked in [[World War II]] with a string of successful musicals with [[Judy Garland]], including the Oscar nominated ''[[Babes in Arms]]'' (1939) as well as more serious roles in films such as ''[[The Human Comedy]]'' (1943) and ''[[National Velvet]]'' (1944).
Rooney's successful role as [[Andy Hardy]] in ''A Family Affair'' (1937) led to fourteen further films featuring that character from 1938 to 1958. His first role as the top-billed star in a feature film was as Shockey Carter in ''Hoosier Schoolboy'' (1937) with [[Edward Pawley]] playing his father. His breakthrough serious role came in 1938's [[Boys Town (1938 film)|Boys Town]] opposite [[Spencer Tracy]] as Whitey Marsh, which opened shortly before his 18th birthday. His fame peaked in [[World War II]] with a string of successful musicals with [[Judy Garland]], including the Oscar nominated ''[[Babes in Arms]]'' (1939) as well as more serious roles in films such as ''[[The Human Comedy]]'' (1943) and ''[[National Velvet]]'' (1944).


In 1944, Rooney entered military service for 21 months during [[World War II]], during which time he was a radio personality on the [[American Forces Network]]. After his return to civilian life, his career slumped. He appeared in a number of films, including ''Words and Music'' in 1948, which paired him for the last time with Garland on film (he appeared with her on one episode as a guest on her [[CBS]] variety series in 1963), and one final Andy Hardy film in the late 1950s. ''The Mickey Rooney Show,'' also known as ''Hey Mulligan,'' appeared on [[NBC]] television for 39 episodes during 1954 and 1955.
In 1944, Rooney entered military service for 21 months during [[World War II]], during which time he was a radio personality on the [[American Forces Network]]. After his return to civilian life,he appeared in a number of films, including ''Words and Music'' in 1948, which paired him for the last time with Garland on film (he appeared with her on one episode as a guest on her [[CBS]] variety series in 1963), and one final Andy Hardy film in the late 1950s. ''The Mickey Rooney Show,'' also known as ''Hey Mulligan,'' appeared on [[NBC]] television for 39 episodes during 1954 and 1955.


In 1960, he directed and starred in ''The Private Lives of Adam and Eve,'' an ambitious comedy known for its multiple flashbacks and many cameos. In the 1960s Rooney returned to theatrical entertainment. He still accepted film roles in undistinguished movies, but occasionally would appear in better works, such as ''[[Requiem for a Heavyweight]]'' ([[1962]]) and ''[[The Black Stallion]]'' (1979). On [[December 31]], [[1961]], he appeared on television's "What's My Line" and mentioned that he had already started enrolling students in the MRSE (Mickey Rooney School of Entertainment).
In the 1960s Rooney returned to theatrical entertainment. He still accepted film roles in undistinguished movies, but occasionally would appear in better works, such as ''[[Requiem for a Heavyweight]]'' ([[1962]]) and ''[[The Black Stallion]]'' (1979). On [[December 31]], [[1961]], he appeared on television's "What's My Line" and mentioned that he had already started enrolling students in the MRSE (Mickey Rooney School of Entertainment).
His school venture never came to fruition, but for several years he was a spokesman/partner in Pennsylvania's Downingtown Inn, a country club and
His school venture never came to fruition, but for several years he was a spokesman/partner in Pennsylvania's Downingtown Inn, a country club and
golf resort.
golf resort.
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[[Norman Lear]] to consider taking on the role of Archie Bunker in the upcoming [[CBS]] series, [[All in the Family]]. Like [[Jackie Gleason]] before him, Mickey rejected the project as too controversial.
[[Norman Lear]] to consider taking on the role of Archie Bunker in the upcoming [[CBS]] series, [[All in the Family]]. Like [[Jackie Gleason]] before him, Mickey rejected the project as too controversial.


He continued to be busy in stage and television work through the 1980s and 1990s, appearing in the acclaimed stage play ''[[Sugar Babies]]'' with [[Ann Miller]] beginning in 1979; starring in the long-running TV series ''The [[Adventures of the Black Stallion]]'', reprising his role as Henry Daily from ''The Black Stallion'' film; touring [[Canada]] in a [[dinner theatre]] production of ''The Mind with the Naughty Man'' in the mid-1990s; and playing The Wizard in a stage production of ''[[The Wonderful Wizard of Oz]]'' with [[Eartha Kitt]] at [[Madison Square Garden]]. Kitt was later replaced by [[Jo Anne Worley]]. He also appeared in the documentary ''[[That's Entertainment! III]]''.
He continued to be busy in stage and television work through the 1980s and 1990s, appearing in the acclaimed stage play ''[[Sugar Babies]]'' with [[Ann Miller]] beginning in 1979; starring in the long-running TV series ''The [[Adventures of the Black Stallion]]'', reprising his role as Henry Daily from ''The Black Stallion'' film. He also voiced Mr. Cherrywood in ''[[The Care Bears Movie]]'' ([[1985]]), and starred as the Movie Mason in yet another family film, 2000s ''[[Phantom of the Megaplex]]'' (a [[Disney Channel]] [[Disney Channel Original Movies|Original Movie]]). He played himself in the ''[[Simpsons]]'' episode "[[Radioactive Man (The Simpsons episode)|Radioactive Man]]" of 1995.

He also voiced Mr. Cherrywood in ''[[The Care Bears Movie]]'' ([[1985]]), and starred as the Movie Mason in yet another family film, 2000s ''[[Phantom of the Megaplex]]'' (a [[Disney Channel]] [[Disney Channel Original Movies|Original Movie]]). He played himself in the ''[[Simpsons]]'' episode "[[Radioactive Man (The Simpsons episode)|Radioactive Man]]" of 1995.


In 1996-97 Mickey played Talbut on the TV series, [[Kleo The Misfit Unicorn]] produced by [[Gordon Stanfield Animation (GSA)]].
In 1996-97 Mickey played Talbut on the TV series, [[Kleo The Misfit Unicorn]] produced by [[Gordon Stanfield Animation (GSA)]].
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As of [[{{CURRENTYEAR}}]], Rooney continues to work in film, and tours with his wife, [[Jan Rooney|Jan Chamberlin]] in a multi-media live stage production called "Let's Put On a Show!" Chamberlin met Mickey through his son, Mickey Jr., whom she had been dating at the time. On May 26, 2007 he was Grand Marshal at the Garden Grove Strawberry Festival.
As of [[{{CURRENTYEAR}}]], Rooney continues to work in film, and tours with his wife, [[Jan Rooney|Jan Chamberlin]] in a multi-media live stage production called "Let's Put On a Show!" Chamberlin met Mickey through his son, Mickey Jr., whom she had been dating at the time. On May 26, 2007 he was Grand Marshal at the Garden Grove Strawberry Festival.


Currently, he and his wife live in [[Westlake Village, California]].
Currently, he and his wife live in [[Westlake Village, California]]. Both are Born-Again Christians.


==Accomplishments==
==Accomplishments==

Revision as of 03:55, 7 June 2007

Mickey Rooney
File:MickeyRooney publ.jpg
Born
Joseph Yule, Jr.
Years active1922-Present
Height5 ft 2 in (157 cm)
Spouse(s)Ava Gardner (1941-1943)

Betty Jane Rase (1944-1949)
Martha Vickers(1949-1951)
Elaine Devry (1952-1958)
Carolyn Mitchell (1958-1966)
Marge Lane (1966-1967)
Carolyn Hockert (1969-1974)

Jan Chamberlin (1978-present)
Websitehttp://www.mickeyrooney.com/
Actor Mickey Rooney speaks at the Pentagon in 2000 during a ceremony honoring the USO.

Mickey Rooney (born Joseph Yule, Jr. on September 23, 1920), is an American film actor whose career began in 1922 at seventeen months and has continued through 2007. In the 1990s, he best known for his work as Henry Dailey on the Family Channel's, Adventures of the Black Stallion.

Biography

Early life

Rooney was born in Brooklyn, New York to a vaudeville family. His father, Joseph Yule, was from Scotland, and his mother, Nellie W. Carter, was from Kansas City, Missouri. Rooney began performing at the age of seventeen months in 1922.

Career

Entering the movie business in 1926, he made his name as the title character in the Mickey McGuire shorts. These were a series of more than 40 silent, two-reel comedies adapted from the Toonerville Trolley comic strip, in which he starred through 1936. For a time he billed himself as Mickey McGuire, but legally changed his name to Mickey Rooney in 1932. Also during this period he met Walt Disney and later he would claim Disney had named Mickey Mouse after him. It is difficult to verify, and others have made similar claims, but Rooney takes credit for giving rising starlet Norma Jean Mortenson the stage name Marilyn Monroe (his co-star in the 1950 film The Fireball).

In 1934 he signed to MGM and was educated at the studio's School for Professional Children.

Rooney's successful role as Andy Hardy in A Family Affair (1937) led to fourteen further films featuring that character from 1938 to 1958. His first role as the top-billed star in a feature film was as Shockey Carter in Hoosier Schoolboy (1937) with Edward Pawley playing his father. His breakthrough serious role came in 1938's Boys Town opposite Spencer Tracy as Whitey Marsh, which opened shortly before his 18th birthday. His fame peaked in World War II with a string of successful musicals with Judy Garland, including the Oscar nominated Babes in Arms (1939) as well as more serious roles in films such as The Human Comedy (1943) and National Velvet (1944).

In 1944, Rooney entered military service for 21 months during World War II, during which time he was a radio personality on the American Forces Network. After his return to civilian life,he appeared in a number of films, including Words and Music in 1948, which paired him for the last time with Garland on film (he appeared with her on one episode as a guest on her CBS variety series in 1963), and one final Andy Hardy film in the late 1950s. The Mickey Rooney Show, also known as Hey Mulligan, appeared on NBC television for 39 episodes during 1954 and 1955.

In the 1960s Rooney returned to theatrical entertainment. He still accepted film roles in undistinguished movies, but occasionally would appear in better works, such as Requiem for a Heavyweight (1962) and The Black Stallion (1979). On December 31, 1961, he appeared on television's "What's My Line" and mentioned that he had already started enrolling students in the MRSE (Mickey Rooney School of Entertainment). His school venture never came to fruition, but for several years he was a spokesman/partner in Pennsylvania's Downingtown Inn, a country club and golf resort.

In 1966, while Mickey was working on a film in the Philippines, his wife Barbara (aka Carolyn Mitchell), who had been a pin-up model and aspiring actress, was found dead in their bed. Beside her was her lover, an actor friend of Rooney's. Detectives ruled it murder-suicide, which was accomplished with Mickey's own gun. Grief-stricken and not in his right frame of mind, Rooney quickly married Barbara's friend, Marge Lane. The union lasted about one hundred days.

He was awarded an Academy Juvenile Award in 1938, and in 1983 the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences voted him their Academy Honorary Award for his lifetime of achievement. Laurence Olivier called Rooney "the single best film actor America ever produced", a sentiment echoed by actor James Mason. Judy Garland stated that Rooney was "the world's greatest talent."

Rooney did the voices for three Christmas TV animated/stop action specials: Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town (1970), The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974), and Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July—always playing Santa Claus. In 1970, he was approached by television producer Norman Lear to consider taking on the role of Archie Bunker in the upcoming CBS series, All in the Family. Like Jackie Gleason before him, Mickey rejected the project as too controversial.

He continued to be busy in stage and television work through the 1980s and 1990s, appearing in the acclaimed stage play Sugar Babies with Ann Miller beginning in 1979; starring in the long-running TV series The Adventures of the Black Stallion, reprising his role as Henry Daily from The Black Stallion film. He also voiced Mr. Cherrywood in The Care Bears Movie (1985), and starred as the Movie Mason in yet another family film, 2000s Phantom of the Megaplex (a Disney Channel Original Movie). He played himself in the Simpsons episode "Radioactive Man" of 1995.

In 1996-97 Mickey played Talbut on the TV series, Kleo The Misfit Unicorn produced by Gordon Stanfield Animation (GSA).

In 2006, he co-starred in Night at the Museum with Dick Van Dyke and Ben Stiller.

Rooney has also been appearing in television commercials for Garden State Life Insurance Company in 1999, alongside his wife Jan. In current commercials (2007), Rooney can be seen in the background washing imaginary dishes.

Today

As of 2024, Rooney continues to work in film, and tours with his wife, Jan Chamberlin in a multi-media live stage production called "Let's Put On a Show!" Chamberlin met Mickey through his son, Mickey Jr., whom she had been dating at the time. On May 26, 2007 he was Grand Marshal at the Garden Grove Strawberry Festival.

Currently, he and his wife live in Westlake Village, California. Both are Born-Again Christians.

Accomplishments

Feature films

Year Title
1927 Orchids and Ermine
1932 The Beast of the City
Sin's Pay Day
High Speed
Fast Companions
My Pal, the King
Officer Thirteen
1933 The Big Cage
The Life of Jimmy Dolan
The Big Chance
Broadway to Hollywood
The Chief
The World Changes
1934 Beloved
The Lost Jungle
I Like It That Way
Upperworld (scenes deleted)
Manhattan Melodrama
Love Birds
Half a Sinner
Hide-Out
Chained
Blind Date
Death on the Diamond
1935 The County Chairman
West Point of the Air (scenes deleted)
Reckless
The Healer
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Rendezvous
Ah, Wilderness!
1936 Riffraff
Little Lord Fauntleroy
Down the Stretch
The Devil Is a Sissy
1937 A Family Affair
Captains Courageous
Slave Ship
Hoosier Schoolboy
Live, Love and Learn
Thoroughbreds Don't Cry
You're Only Young Once
1938 Love Is a Headache
Judge Hardy's Children
Hold That Kiss
Lord Jeff
Love Finds Andy Hardy
Boys Town
Stablemates
Out West with the Hardys
1939 The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
The Hardys Ride High
Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever
Babes in Arms
Judge Hardy and Son
1940 Young Tom Edison
Andy Hardy Meets Debutante
Strike Up the Band
1941 Andy Hardy's Private Secretary
Men of Boys Town
Life Begins for Andy Hardy
Babes on Broadway
1942 The Courtship of Andy Hardy
A Yank at Eton
Andy Hardy's Double Life
1943 The Human Comedy
Thousands Cheer
Girl Crazy
1944 Andy Hardy's Blonde Trouble
National Velvet
1946 Love Laughs at Andy Hardy
1947 Killer McCoy
1948 Summer Holiday
Words and Music
1949 The Big Wheel
1950 Quicksand
The Fireball
He's a Cockeyed Wonder
1951 My Outlaw Brother
The Strip
1952 Sound Off
1953 Off Limits
All Ashore
A Slight Case of Larceny
1954 Drive a Crooked Road
The Atomic Kid
1955 The Bridges at Toko-Ri
The Twinkle in God's Eye
1956 The Bold and the Brave
Francis in the Haunted House
Magnificent Roughnecks
1957 Operation Mad Ball
Baby Face Nelson
1958 A Nice Little Bank That Should Be Robbed
Andy Hardy Comes Home
1959 The Big Operator
The Last Mile
1960 Platinum High School
The Private Lives of Adam and Eve
1961 King of the Roaring 20's - The Story of Arnold Rothstein
Breakfast at Tiffany's
Everything's Ducky
1962 Requiem for a Heavyweight
1963 It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
1964 The Secret Invasion
1965 Twenty-Four Hours to Kill
How to Stuff a Wild Bikini
1966 The Devil In Love
Ambush Bay
1968 Skidoo
1969 The Extraordinary Seaman
The Comic
80 Steps to Jonah
1970 Cockeyed Cowboys of Calico County
Hollywood Blue (documentary)
1971 Mooch Goes to Hollywood
The Manipulator
1972 Richard
Pulp
1973 The Godmothers
1974 Thunder County
Rachel's Man
That's Entertainment!
Journey Back to Oz (voice)
1975 Ace of Hearts
From Hong Kong with Love
1976 Find the Lady
1977 The Domino Principle
Pete's Dragon
1978 The Magic of Lassie
1979 The Black Stallion
Arabian Adventure
1981 The Fox and the Hound (voice)
1982 The Emperor of Peru
1985 The Care Bears Movie (voice)
1986 Lightning, the White Stallion
1989 Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland
Erik the Viking
1991 My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
1992 The Milky Life
Sweet Justice
Silent Night, Deadly Night 5: The Toy Maker
The Magic Voyage (voice)
Maximum Force
1993 The Legend of Wolf Mountain
1994 Revenge of the Red Baron
The Outlaws: The Legend of O.B. Taggart
Making Waves
A Century of Cinema (documentary)
That's Entertainment! III
1997 Killing Midnight
1998 The Face on the Barroom Floor
Animals and the Tollkeeper
Michael Kael vs. the World News Company
Sinbad: The Battle of the Dark Knights
Babe: Pig in the City
1999 Holy Hollywood
The First of May
2000 Internet Love
Phantom of the Megaplex
2001 Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure (voice)
2002 Topa Topa Bluffs
2003 Paradise
2005 Strike the Tent
A Christmas Too Many
2006 The Thirsting
Hedy Lamarr: Secrets of a Hollywood Star (documentary)
To Kill a Mockumentary
Night at the Museum
Bamboo Shark

Short subjects

Year Title
1926 Not to Be Trusted
1927 Mickey's Circus
Mickey's Pals
Mickey's Eleven
Mickey's Battles
1928 Mickey's Minstrels
Mickey's Parade
Mickey in School
Mickey's Nine
Mickey's Little Eva
Mickey's Wild West
Mickey in Love
Mickey's Triumph
Mickey's Babies
Mickey's Movies
Mickey's Rivals
Mickey the Detective
Mickey's Athletes
Mickey's Big Game Hunt
1929 Mickey's Great Idea
Mickey's Explorers
Mickey's Menagerie
Mickey's Last Chance
Mickey's Brown Derby
Mickey's Northwest Mounted
Mickey's Initiation
Mickey's Midnite Follies
Mickey's Surprise
Mickey's Mix-Up
Mickey's Big Moment
Mickey's Strategy
1930 Mickey's Champs
Mickey's Master Mind
Mickey's Luck
Mickey's Whirlwinds
Mickey's Warriors
Mickey the Romeo
Mickey's Merry Men
Mickey's Winners
Screen Snapshots Series 9, No. 24
Mickey's Musketeers
Mickey's Bargain
1931 Mickey's Stampede
Mickey's Crusaders
Mickey's Rebellion
Mickey's Diplomacy
Mickey's Wildcats
Mickey's Thrill Hunters
Mickey's Helping Hand
Mickey's Sideline
1932 Mickey's Busy Day
Mickey's Travels
Mickey's Holiday
Mickey's Big Business
Mickey's Golden Rule
Mickey's Charity
1933 Mickey's Ape Man
Mickey's Race
Mickey's Big Broadcast
Mickey's Touchdown
Mickey's Tent Show
Mickey's Covered Wagon
1934 Mickey's Medicine Man
1935 Pirate Party on Catalina Isle
1936 Mickey's Derby Day
1937 Cinema Circus
1938 Andy Hardy's Dilemma
1940 Rodeo Dough
1941 Meet the Stars #4: Variety Reel #2
1943 Show Business at War
1947 Screen Snapshots: Out of This World Series
1953 Screen Snapshots: Mickey Rooney - Then and Now
1958 Screen Snapshots: Glamorous Hollywood
1968 Vienna
1974 Just One More Time
1975 The Lion Roars Again

Television

Year(s) Title
1954-1955 The Mickey Rooney Show
1957 The Comedian
Pinocchio
1963 Twilight Zone - "The Last Night of a Jockey"
1964-1965 Mickey
1967 Ready and Willing (unsold pilot)
1970 Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town (voice)
1972 Evil Roy Slade
1974 The Year Without a Santa Claus (voice)
1979 Donovan's Kid
Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July (voice)
1980 O'Malley (unsold pilot)
My Kidnapper, My Love
1981 Leave 'em Laughing
Bill
Senior Trip
1982 One of the Boys (canceled after 13 episodes)
1983 Bill: On His Own
1984 It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
1986 The Return of Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer
There Must Be a Pony
Little Spies
1988 Bluegrass
1990 Home for Christmas
1990-1993 The Adventures of the Black Stallion
1991 The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw
1995 Brothers' Destiny
The Simpsons (as himself in the episode Radioactive Man)
1997 Kleo The Misfit Unicorn (As Talbut The Elder Unicron)
Boys Will Be Boys
1998 ER
2000 Phantom of the Megaplex
2005 The Happy Elf (voice)

Marriages

Name Years Children
Ava Gardner 1941-1943
Betty Jane Rase 1944-1949 Tim Rooney
Mickey Rooney Jr.
Martha Vickers 1949-1951 Teddy Rooney
Elaine Devry 1952-1958
Carolyn Mitchell 1958-1966 Kyle Rooney
Kimmy Rooney
Kelly Rooney
Kerry Rooney
Marge Lane 1966-1967
Carolyn Hockert 1969-1974 Jimmy Rooney
Jonelle Rooney
Jan Chamberlin 1978-present